how to get
the light & airy look in-camera
Jordan’s camera settings to nail the L&A look while you’re shooting -1-
Jordan’s secret to light and airy camera settings I remember sitting in an imaging class my sophomore year of high school and finally mustering up the courage to say, “Hey, I want to learn manual!”
Before I spill the beans and share everything with ya, make sure you’re shooting in RAW! From there, we’re going to set the ISO and aperture and then nail down that shutter speed! This is my exact process for nailing the light & airy look in-camera. Ready? Here we go!
bored in high school, I just read different manuals. So yeah, if you need to know all the ins and outs of pretty much every setting on your camera or the full range of possibilities on a computer, I’m your girl.
I knew I needed total control of my camera settings if I was going to take photos of sports and I can be a bit of a perfectionist. I know. Me, a perfectionist. Who would have thought?
I wasn’t even all that interested in taking light and airy photos at that point. I just wanted everything to be perfect right off the camera. So I learned by... reading the camera manual. Nerd alert. When I was
Back to light & airy secrets.
Over the years, I’ve developed shortcuts and secret camera setting combinations for that signature light and airy look! Combine these with a reflector and the Light & Airy Preset Suite and you’ll be dancing around your kitchen like you just got the latest volume of the Magnolia Journal.
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Step 1: set the iso
Step 2: set the aperture
First up, ISO! You’ll want to keep this setting to the lowest possible setting (but definitely not on auto) for this first step. If you need to bump up this setting because you just can’t get your photo bright enough (hashtag: light and airy blogger problems), we’ll tackle that in step 4. For now, set this as low as you can. My Canon 5D Mark III allows me to go down to 160 or 200 ISO.
Next, let’s set your aperture. I think it’s one of the most important parts of an image because it dictates what someone can see. Remember, small aperture means that there’s a small amount in focus while a big aperture means that there’s a big amount in focus. Small aperture means major blur while big aperture means little blur.
Quick aperture guide I typically shoot somewhere between f/1.8 and f/3.5. Couples & people
I’m dialing in f/2.0 or f/2.2 most of the time
Flat Lays
I’m dialing in f/3.5
Landscapes
I’m dialing in f/3.5
Large groups
I’m dialing in f/3.5 or f/4.0
Flowers
I’m dialing in f/1.6
Animals Stars
I’m dialing in f/1.6 or f/1.8 I’m dialing in f/16
How much do you want in focus? Do you love a lot of background blur? If so, start with a small aperture like 2.0 or 2.2. If you love no background blur and want absolutely everything in focus for a landscape, go with a bigger aperture like 3.5 or 8.
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shot at f/2.8 in daylight
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Step 3: set the shutter speed Now it's time to set that shutter speed. Remember, when you're working with your shutter speed, I want you to think about the light outside of your camera. Since you've set your ISO and aperture, you'll want to make adjustments to your shutter speed until you nail your lighting in camera! If you're working with a tricky lighting situation (low light, end of day, etc), get it as close as you can and scroll to step 4.
IF YOU'RE OUTDOORS AND IN A BRIGHT OPEN SPACE... Are you in
a really bright space like an open field in the middle of the day? You'll probably want to start at 2000 and adjust your shutter speed to your liking. Side note: If you are shooting in a bright space in an open field in the middle of the day, I doubt you'll need any ISO. Quick light and airy tip: If you're shooting on a sunny day, try to find some shade to get that light and airy look… IF YOU’RE INSIDE... Are you in a
darker space like your naturally lit office or home? Try a lower shutter speed like 1/125 or even 1/60. Just make sure to hold your camera still so you don’t add any motion blur.
If I’m shooting inside and there’s plenty of light, I start with something like 1/125 for the shutter speed and adjust. IF YOU’RE OUTDOORS AND IN THE SHADE... Since I’m almost
always shooting in the shade when I’m outdoors, I don’t have to go very high with my shutter speed. If I’m shooting outside and there’s plenty of light, I start with 800 for the shutter speed and adjust. Side note: think about overcast days like shooting in the shade. Play around with the shutter speed to see what you love. I love the colors that come from a shutter speed of 1/60 and 1/125. The amount of light you let in definitely effects the coloring of your image.
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shot on a sunny day in the shade
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Step 4: revisit the ISO if you’re still not there
around you or when your camera won’t read the light around you, it’s time to bump your ISO. I use the Canon 5D Mark III, so I can push my camera’s ISO to 1600 without any noticeable grain.
Couldn’t quite nail your lighting? That will happen anytime you’re shooting in a dark space, at the end of the day (or beginning of it) or in heavily overcast scenarios. Hello, ISO. Remember how we wanted it to stay at the lowest number as long as possible to avoid unnecessary grain? Well, it’s time to crank that dial up if you’re still not getting enough light! When there’s not enough light
Here are my most common ISO settings. I always plug these in when I’m working through various lighting conditions and then adjust. Your ISO will depend on a lot of different aspects - your camera system, the light around you, and the shutter speed and aperture you already set.
My common ISO settings Bright & sunny
160 or 200 ISO
partly cloudy and in the shade
320 ISO
overcast dark spaces with a flash
800 ISO (overcast in Missouri is always pretty dark!)
dark spaces with no flash
1250 ISO 3200 ISO
We have 3 Canon 600 flash setups, but Isaac mostly shoots for those grainy black and whites during the reception. He’ll underexpose just a little and we’ll convert to black and white with a grain boost in post. -7-
shot at 1250 ISO and edited with the Fuji Classic preset
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There you have it! These are my go-to settings for the signature light & airy look. You know, so I can get it right in camera and make sure tricky images don’t hang me up. This little photo below? I took this on the
dreariest day that ever happened to Kansas City and threw in a reflector to the right to bounce some light back into the shadows. It took me less than 10 seconds to edit with the Light and Airy presets and it was published on Style Me Pretty!
lightandairypresets.com -9-